Overhead boxcar door



July 29, 1947.

0. M. WILLIAMS OVERHEAD BOXCAR DOOR 6 Sheets-Sheet Filed Dec. 14, 1944 Inventor Illlllll IIIF I-iI-f llll- July 29, 1947. o. M. WILLIAMS OVERHEAD BOXCAR DOOR Filed Dec. 14, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor July 29, 1947. o. M. WILLIAMS 2,424,728

OVERHEAD BOXCAR DOOR Filed Dec. 14, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor 0//Ver 1A1. ifif/fa/ms fl/agg O. M. WILLIAMS OVERHEAD BoxcAR Dooa Filed Dec. 14, 1944 July 29, 1947.

Patented July 29, 1947 enemas OVERHEAD noxo r :1 noon.

4 Oliver M. Williams, St. Louis, Mo.

Application December it, rest, Serial No. 568,123

I 8 Claims. (on. tea-sir) Y may be so adjusted as to provide for convenient loadin or unloading of the car body from end to end thereof.

-Another object of the invention is to provide a sectional roof construction of the above kind in which the intermediate sections are permitted to open completely only when the end sections are elevated, and wherein manually operable means are provided for raising and lowering the end sections.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means for automatically partially opening the intermediate sections of the roof so that they are engaged with and sustain the end sections in raised or open position.

Still another object of. the invention is to provide a sectional roof construction of the above kind, wherein hinged weatherstrips are provided for covering the joints between the roof sections when the latter are closed, thereby preventing passage of water into the car body between the joints of the roof sections.

Other objects are to provide means for guiding the roof sections in their opening and closing movements and means to effectively secure the roof sections in closed position.

More specific objects and features of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the invention and the associated intermediate roof section partially open.

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is an enlarged transverse section taken on line 6-45 of Figure l.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the present box car body is of general horizontally elongated rectangular form and includes side walls 5, end walls 6, a floor or a bottom wall l, and a sectional roof that includes two vertically movable end sections 8. and 8a and two horizontally movableintermediate sections 9 and 9a. Mounted on the inner surface of the side walls 5 adjacent the top thereof are horizontal rails l8 on which ride rollers ll carried. by mounts l2 fixed to and depending from the top or horizon tal walls of the roof sections,

The end roof sections 8 and to have depend ing vertical side walls l3 and its. disposed at the outer sides of the side walls 5 of the car body proper, so as to guide the sections it and tea against lateral displacement when being raised consists in the novel form, combination and ar-- rangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a box car body constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is an enlarged end elevational view of the same.

Figure-4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view showing one end portion of the car or lowered. The intermediate roof sections 9 and 93a have side depending flanges it and Ma disposed at the outer sides of the side walls 5 at the top of the latter and preventing sidewise displacement of said sections 9 and 9a. The walls l3 and ma are provided near the bottoms thereof with openings adapted to removably receive screws and H511 that are also threaded into the side walls 5 of the body proper for securely fastening the end sections 8 and 8a in lowered closed position. Additional fastening means for thispurpose includes depending straps it and it carried by the outer ends of the sections d and 9a, and screws l'l passing through the lower ends of the straps l6 and threaded into the end walls 6 of the body proper. In order to prevent loss of the screws l5 and l5a and the screws ill, said screws are preferably attached to chains l8 which are also attached to the adjacent walls of the car. Similar straps Isa depend from the sides of the intermediate roof sections .9 and 9a and have openings I62; to receive screws lie that are threaded into the sidewalls 5 of the body proper so as to secure the said intermediate roof sections 9 and 9a, against upward displacement when closed. The screws lla are carried by chains Wu, and the straps Ilia are arranged intermediate the ends of the sections 9 and of the roof.

Connecting the side walls 5 of the body proper at the top of said side walls is a cross bar l9.

body with the adjacent end roof section elevated 55 Depending from the inner ends of the roof sec- The side walls i3 and Ila and the straps |9a pass between the rails 2| andthe side walls 5 oi the body proper. The chains l8a oi the screws Ila are supported by the rails 2|, as are also-the chains i8 01' the screws l5 and Ho.

It will be noted that the side walls I3 and l3a of the end roof sections 8 and 3a are provided with horizontal slots 22 that open through the inner edges of said walls l3 and Ba near the bottoms of the latter. Also, flexible members 23 connect the sides of the sections 9 and 9a with the respective end sections 8 and 8a so that when the latter are elevated, the sections 9 and 9a will be partially opened or moved toward the end sections 9 and 8a, as illustrated in Figure 4. This movement engages the outer end oi. the sections 9 and 9a in the slots 22 of the adjacent end sections 9 and 8a so as to sustain the latter in elevated position and with said end sections 8 and 9a slightly tilted. By further elevating the end sections 8 and 9a at the outer ends of the latter, the slots 22 may be horizontally disposed so that the intermediate roof sections 9 and 9a may be completely opened and to enter the slots 22 for the full length of the latter. Thus, the intermediate sections 9 and 9a of the roof can be completely opened when the end sections 9 and 8a are completely elevated. This permits loading and unloading the ends of the car body when the end sections are elevated and the intermediate sections are nearly closed, while loading and unloading at the intermediate part of the car body can be had when the intermediate sections 9 and 9a are completely opened. Suitable hasp fasteners 24 are provided for releasably connecting the adjacent inner ends of the intermediate root sections 9 and 9a when the latter are closed. Also, the adjacent inner end portions of the intermediate sections 9 and 9a are effectively held against raising, by means oi. snap fasteners 25 slidable on the rails 2| and engaged in eye members 26 attached to the side flanges l4 nd a of the sections 9 and 9a. The snap fasteners 25 are thus slidable with the sections 9 and 9a and along the rails 2|. The flexible members 23 may consist of chains 21 having suitable protective coverings 28 thereon, as shown in Figure 4.

Overlying the joints between the adjacent ends of the roof sections are weatherstrips 29 which, when closed, are disposed in recesses 39 provided in the adjacent ends of the root sections, as shown in Figure 5. Each Weatherstrip 29 is hinged to one of the roof sections with which it is associated, as at 3|, and hasp fasteners.32 are provided to releasably hold the weatherstrips 29 in upwardly swung, inoperative position, as desired, when the roof sections are opened. It will be noted that the weatherstrips 29 extend from side to side of the sections of the roof and are provided at their ends and in their upper surfaces with tapered grooves 33 which facilitate drainage of water toward the sides of the car body and away from the joints between the root sections. The usual walk is provided on the roof centrally between the sides of the body, which walk is compo ed of sect ons 34, one secured on each root 9 and 9a.

section. Handles 35 are provided on the intermediate sections 9 and 9a to facilitate opening the same. Also, the usual ladders 36 are provided on the ends-of the car body adjacent the corners of the latter to facilitate passage to and from the roof of the car.

Means are provided for raising and lowering the end roof sections 9 and 8a. As shown, a pulley 31 is mounted on each side of each intermediate roof section adjacent the inner end of the latter, and one end portion of a flexible member or chain 33 passes around this pulley 31 and is attached to the adjacent edge of the adjacent side wall l3 or I3a. of the associated end roof section, as at 39. At each side of the body proper and adjacent each corner of the latter another pulley is mounted in an elevated position. Also, a guide 4| is mounted outwardly of and below each pulley 40. The intermediate portion of each flexible member or chain 38 hangs at the adjacent corner of the car, and the other or outer end portion of this flexible member or chain passes upwardly through the guide 4| then over the adjacent pulley .40 and attaches at 42 to the lower portion of the adjacent side wall l3 or i3a of the associated end roof section near the bottom of said wall l3 or l3a. Thus, a flexible element or chain 38 is provided at each side of each end roof section and operatively connected to the latter near the inner and outer portions of the walls [3 and 13a, respectively. By properly pulling on the flexible members or chains I 3 at both sides of the car, each end roof section can be elevated to a desired position. A further pull on the inner ends of the flexible members 38 will tilt the end roof section to the position of Figure 4, and this exerts a pull on the flexible connections 23 so as to slide the associated roof sections 9 and 9a outwardly or toward the end roof sections. In this way, the intermediate roof sections may be partially opened so as to enter the slots 22 for a slight distance and thereby sustain the end roof sections in elevated or open position. In this condition, loading and unloading at the ends of the car body is permitted. By exerting a pull on the outer ends of the flexible members 38, the outer ends of the end roof sections can be further raised so as to position the slots 22 horizontally and in line with the intermediate roof sections When this is done, said intermediate roof sections can be completely opened by allowing the sides of said intermediate roof sections to enter the slots 22 for the full depth or length of the latter. When this is done, loading and unloading of the car body can :be conveniently accomplished intermediate the ends of the car body or at points which were originally covered by the intermediate roof sections when they were closed. By sliding the intermediate roof sections toward each other until they are completely closed, the end roof sections may then be'completely lowered. The roof sections can then be securely fastened in closed position so that the roof sections will not vibrate or partially open while the car is traveling. It will be noted that the rollers ll sustain the weight of the roof sections so that the latter do not contact with and rest upon the side or end walls of the body proper. The straps i6 and Ilia are secured to the roof sections by eye screws 43 and 43a. Each strap I6 is secured to the adjacent end roof section by a setv of three staggered or nonaligned eye screws 43', and an endless tension spring 44 is threaded through the eyes of each set of screws 43' andth e eyes, of the screws 48, at opposite sides of said set of screws 43' so as to prevent unscrewing and loosening of all of said eye screws.

,From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction and operation, as well as the advantages of the present invention, will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. When desired and possible, rings 45 may be used to connect hoisting cables the latter are raised, walls depending from the.

sides of said end sections and having horizontal slots in' the lower portions thereof opening through the inner edges of the same, said intermediate sections having side portions movable into said slots when the end sections are raised to hold the end sections in open position, said end and intermediate roof sections having depending straps, and securing means passing through said straps and into the car body to secure the roof sections in closed position.

2. In a railway box car, a body having a sectional roof afiording an overhead door construction, said roof including longitudinally slidable intermediate sections, and opposite end sections tiltable upwardly to open in a direction toward said intermediate sections, said end sections having slots which come into the sliding plane of said intermediate sections when the end sections are raised and tilted, means for tilting said end sections to open position, and means connecting each end section with the adjacent intermediate section to draw said intermediate section into said slots when said end section is tilted, sustaining said end section in tilted open position.

3. In a railway box car having a sectional roof afiording an overhead door construction, said roof including longitudinally slidable intermediate sections, and opposite end sections mounted to tilt upwardly to open in a direction toward said intermediate sections, said end sections having side portions depending in overlapping relation to the sides of said car body, said depending portions having slots opening toward the middle of the car body which come into the sliding plane of said intermediate sections when the end sections are raised and tilted, means for tilting said end sections to open position, and means connecting each end section with the adjacent intermediate section to draw said intermediate section into said slots when said end section is tilted, thereby sustaining said end section in tilted open position.

4. In a railway box car, a body having a secto the end sections 8 and to for raising the latter.

tional roof aflording an overhead door construcassume 6 car body, which come into the sliding plane of said intermediate sections when said end sections are raised and tilted, means for raising and tilting said end sections to open position and means connecting each end section with the adjacent intermediate section to draw said intermediate section into said slots against the forward portion of the walls thereof when said sections are tilted, to sustain in part said sections in tilted open position, said tilting means being operable to level said end sections while the intermediate sections are engaged in said slots, so that the latter can be pulled'fully into said slots, thereby upwardly to openin a direction toward said in- 'termediate sections, said end sections having side portions depending in overlapped relation to said car body, said depending portions having horizontal slots opening toward the middle of the car body, which come into the sliding plane of said intermediate sections when said end sections are raised and tilted, pulleys fixedly mounted 'rela tive to said car body at opposite sides of-each end section-above the lower ends of said side portions, flexible members passing over said pulleys and secured to said side portions at points below said pulleys for lifting said end section and suspending it, pulleys mounted at opposite sides of the adjacent intermediate section, flexible members passing about said last named pulleys secured to said depending side portions at points below said slots for tilting said end section when suspended, to bring the open ends oi. said slots into the sliding plane of said adjacent intermediate section, a flexible connection between the up-;

per portion of said end section and the adjacent intermediate. section for drawing said intermediate section into the open ends of said slots against the walls thereof when the end section is raised and tilted for sustaining said end section in tilted open position, said first named flexible members being operable thereafter to lift said endsection to a level position while said intermediate section is engaged in said slot so that said intermediate. I

section can be pushed fully into said slot, fully uncovering said central opening while said end section is in elevated position.

6. In a railway box car as claimed in,claim 3,

the intermediate sections having side portions which depend in overlapping relation to the sides of said car body, having a depth dimension less than the width of said slots and being the parts of said intermediate section that enter said slots.

7. In a railway box car as claimed in claim 5,

including rails extending longitudinally parallel to the sides of the car body intermediate its top and bottom and spaced therefrom, behind which the depending portions of said end sections are retained and upon which the first mentioned pulleys are mounted.

8. In a railway box car as claimed in claim 3, hinged weather strips overlying the joints between the roof sections and having end grooves in the upper surfaces thereof to facilitate the drainage of water laterally to the sides of said body, said roof sections being recessed in the upper surfaces of the adjacent end portions thereof, said weather strips being normally seated in said e 8 recesses, and means to 'releasably hold the weathmi] er strips inupwardly swung inoperative position. STATES PATENTS- OLIVER M. WILLIAMS. Number me at 2,269,630 Marmello Jan. 13, 1942 REFERENCES CITED 5 2,201,737 Meyer et a1 May 21, 1940 The following references are of record in the 2,269,631. Marlnello Jan. 1 file of this patent: I k 

